Mean Rooster

[PonyRaindrop]

My current buff orphington rooster is mean, will attack me and my family out of nowhere. I am trying to make the discision as to whether or not I want to cull him, and right now I’m leaning towards yes. He does his job, and has saved the hens multiple times, but the majority have featherless backs. I’ve raised him with a lot of interaction when he was a chick. He is two years old now, and has done it for a few months. Should I cull, or is this something I can get rid of? I don’t want to have to watch my back anymore when I’m in the coop.
If I do cull him, will my other non dominant rooster take over? He is a bantam silkie, and acts more like a hen than a roo. He is even lower on the pecking order then some of the hens (orphington, Easter eggers, barred rocks). Is it possible for the dominant hen to take over? I don’t want to sound silly, but will the hens be sad to not have him around?
Thanks.

 

[50-45-1]

I doubt the hens will notice if big meenie is gone.
Your enjoyment of your backyard chickens is greatly dimished with your current rooster.
When he is gone your silky may turn into a monster, there is no guarentee.
I try to not handle or make friends with my roosters. Its just better if they are stanofish and afraid of me.
Good roosters are culled every day there is no reason to keep a bad one.

 

[PonyRaindrop]

I doubt the hens will notice if big meenie is gone.
Your enjoyment of your backyard chickens is greatly dimished with your current rooster.
When he is gone your silky may turn into a monster, there is no guarentee.
I try to not handle or make friends with my roosters. Its just better if they are stanofish and afraid of me.
Good roosters are culled every day there is no reason to keep a bad one.

I will keep this in mind, your right. Thanks for the reply.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Cull him NOW... the meaner the roo the sweeter the stew!

Do you not have enough hens? Why are their backs bare. You could try saddles.

I tolerated being attacked by a boy that was "so sweet" I raised... and he was a "rare" breed... intended for breeding, plenty fine with the ladies... what I regret most was not culling him sooner! He almost ruined the whole rooster experience for me and it took a while for me to be able to appreciate the others I had. Yes, the boy who attacked was handled MUCH when young. I NO longer treat boys like special lap pets AND haven't been attacked again. Come to find out in the chicken world fear equals respect. I'm not mean to them, I just don't go out of my way to docile or friendly. The "friendly" (actually confidence being mistaken by humans) boys that try to be cute little lap ornaments are kept at a distance (pushed back a bit) and taught to respect my space. Still in a calm manner, doesn't have to be threatening. Just confident!

Some of the hens *may* miss him a little, they do seem to have friendships... but that will quickly fade as their backs start to heal. There may be some scuffles as pecking order might change. It's nice that he was able to save the gals a couple times. Yes, I have a head hen.. she even crows! Your Silkie may NOT be able to become head of the flock. He will likely just be a joker running around getting his jollies on the gals who let him. The others who he is lower than don't respect him. He hasn't won them over. (Yes Silkies can be just as big of Stew Pidasso's as any other rooster, most people let their small size allow them to get away with their antics, NOT me). I personally keep roosters for mating but I don't expect protection from them. Crying wolf when a dove goes across the sky isn't protection to me. But more than that against most predators in my area a rooster would just be a first line sacrifice.

You WON'T regret getting rid of him, and may even wonder what took you so long... in my experience. It's time to move forward and not have to watch your back. Aside from maybe being painful... him attacking with his pungi toe nails could cause serious infection... how would your family feel if they had to bury you due to it? Plus he is a liability to anyone you have over. Don't let his life go to waste if you can help it. If you aren't able to feed your family or pets with him, maybe you can find someone who can and will. Most of us dispatch as quickly and humanely as possible. Even when it was the attacker... I raise chickens because I like animals... none should suffer.